Greek · G2222 · unreviewed

ζωή

Life (literally or figuratively)

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ζωή G2222

Pronunciation zōḗ

What does ζωή (zōḗ) mean in the Bible?

ζωή (zōḗ) is a Greek word meaning "life (literally or figuratively)". ζωή, -ῆς, ἡ (ζάω), [in LXX chiefly for חַיִּים ;] life (in Hom. Eternal life rooted in union with Christ. This term runs through the canonical themes of Covenant, Messiah.

Full entry for ζωή (G2222) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

life (literally or figuratively)

Extended definition

Eternal divine life of grace and glory, distinct from mere biological existence or earthly duration

life (in Hom., Hdt., = βίος, which see; later, existence, vita quâ vivimus, as distinct from βίος, vita quam vivimus; opposite to θάνατος);

1of natural life: Luk.16:25, Act.8:33, 1Co.15:19, 1Ti.4:8, Heb.7:3, Jas.4:14; πνεῦμα ζωῆς, Rev.11:11; ψυχὴ ζωῆς ( Gen.1:30), Rev.16:3; of the life of one risen from the dead, Rom.5:10, Heb.7:16.

2Of the life of the kingdom of God, the present life of grace and the life of glory which is to follow (Dalman, Words, 156ff.; Westc, Epp. Jo., 214ff.; Cremer, 272ff.): Jhn.6:51, 53 Rom.7:10 8:6, 10 Php.2:16, Col.3:4, 2Pe.1:3; αἰώνος (reff. supr.; DCG, i, 538a, ii, 30f.), Jhn.4:36 12:50 17:3, 1Jn.1:2, al.; τ. φῶς τῆς ζ., Jhn.8:12; ὁ Λόγος τ. ζ., 1Jn.1:1; ὁ ἄρτος τ. ζ., Jo 6:35, 48; δικαίωσις ζωῆς, Rom.5:18; μετάνοια εἰς ζ., Act.11:18; ἐν αὐτῷ ζ. ἦν, Jhn.1:4; ζ. ἡ ἐν. Χ. Ἰ., 2Ti.1:1; τὰ πρὸς ζωήν, 2Pe.1:3, al.; στέφανος τῆς ζ., Jas.1:12, Rev.2:10; χάρις ζωῆς (genitive expl.), 1Pe.3:7; ζ. καὶ εἰρήνη, Rom.8:6; ζ. καὶ ἀφθαρσία, 2Ti.1:10; ἀνάστασις ζωῆς, Jhn.5:29; βίβλος ζωῆς, Php.4:3, Rev.3:5; ξύλον ζωῆς, Rev.2:7; ὕδωρ ζωῆς, Rev.22:17; meton., of that which has life: τ. πνεῦμα, Rom.8:10; ῥήματα, Jhn.6:63; of one who gives life, Jhn.11:25 14:6, 1Jn.1:2; ἡ ἐντολή, Jhn.12:50.

Synonymssee: βίος.

Source: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith

Why This Word Matters

Eternal life rooted in union with Christ. 1 John 5:13-17

Eternal life mediated through Christ. 1 John 5:6-12

Eternal life through belief. 2 Timothy 1:1-7

Repentance results in participation in covenant life through Christ. Acts 11:1-18

The gospel proclaimed is not mere doctrine but the message that grants true and eternal life in Christ. Acts 5:17-26

The mission is anchored in life in Christ, which steadies ministry under pressure and guards against fear-driven compromise.

Describes the quality of life originating with the Father and revealed in the Son.

Describes the new state entered through relationship with Christ.

Describes the quality of life granted through union with the Son.

Eternal life is a present possession that grounds Christian confidence.

Eternal life is both present possession and future hope in union with Christ.

Grammatical Forms

How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.

Nominative · Singular · Feminine Luke 12:15 · John 1:4 · John 6:63 · John 11:25 · John 12:50 · John 14:6 · John 17:3 · Acts 8:33 · Rom 6:23 · Rom 8:6 · Rom 8:10 · Rom 8:38 · Rom 11:15 · 1 Cor 3:22 · 2 Cor 4:10 · 2 Cor 4:11 24×

Genitive · Singular · Feminine John 5:29 · John 6:35 · John 6:48 · John 6:51 · John 6:68 · John 8:12 · Acts 2:28 · Acts 3:15 · Acts 5:20 · Acts 13:46 · Rom 5:18 · Rom 6:4 · Rom 8:2 · 2 Cor 2:16 · 2 Cor 5:4 · Eph 4:18 47×

Dative · Singular · Feminine Luke 16:25 · Rom 5:10 · Rom 5:17 · 1 Cor 15:19 4×

Accusative · Singular · Feminine Matt 7:14 · Matt 18:8 · Matt 18:9 · Matt 19:16 · Matt 19:17 · Matt 19:29 · Matt 25:46 · Mark 9:43 · Mark 9:45 · Mark 10:17 · Mark 10:30 · Luke 10:25 · Luke 18:18 · Luke 18:30 · John 3:15 · John 3:16 60×

Canonical Themes

Covenant Messiah

Biblical Occurrences

Each occurrence shows the passage reference, the original language term as it appears in that context, its transliteration, and the contextual sense.

New Testament Witnesses

1 John 5:13-17 eternal life zōḗ

Life of the coming age granted in the present through Christ.

1 John 5:6-12 eternal life zōḗ

Life of the coming age granted now through the Son.

2 Timothy 1:1-7 Life zōḗ

life in its fullest sense, life as God gives it, eternal life

Acts 11:1-18 Life zōḗ

Spiritual and eternal life.

Acts 5:17-26 Life zōḗ Genitive · Singular · Feminine

Life in its fullest sense, including spiritual and eternal life.

Additional Occurrences

Appears In

Compound and idiomatic lexemes in which this word is a constituent. Follow a link to study the phrase and its other participating words.

Word Pictures (Robertson)

A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.

Acts 11 — Jerusalem Recognizes God’s Grace to the Gentiles Acts 13 — The Spirit Sends the Mission and the Word Turns to the Gentiles Acts 17 — The Gospel Reasoned from Scripture and Proclaimed to the Nations Acts 5 — Holy Fear, Bold Witness, and Joyful Suffering Galatians 6 — Boasting Only in the Cross: Spirit-Shaped Community and New Creation John 1 — The Word Made Flesh, Witnessed, and Followed John 10 — The Good Shepherd, the Door, and the Son One with the Father John 11 — The Resurrection and the Life, the Raising of Lazarus, and the Plot to Kill Jesus John 12 — The Anointed King, the Lifted-Up Son of Man, and the Hour of Glory John 14 — The Way, the Truth, and the Life, the Father Revealed in the Son, and the Promise of the Spirit John 17 — The Son’s High Priestly Prayer: Glory, Preservation, Sanctification, Unity, Mission, and Love John 20 — The Risen Lord: Empty Tomb, Eyewitness Faith, Peace, Mission, Spirit, Thomas, and the Purpose of the Gospel John 3 — New Birth, Lifted-Up Son, and the Love of God for the World John 4 — Living Water, True Worship, and the Savior of the World John 5 — The Son Who Gives Life, Judges, and Is Witnessed by the Father John 6 — The Bread of Life, the Words of Eternal Life, and the Crisis of True Discipleship John 8 — The Light of the World, True Freedom, and the I AM Before Abraham Luke 10 — The Kingdom Mission Expanded, Mercy Defined, and the Better Portion Chosen Luke 12 — Fear God, Confess Christ, Seek the Kingdom, and Be Ready Luke 18 — Persistent Faith, Humble Mercy, and the King on the Road to Jerusalem Mark 10 — The Way of the Servant King: Marriage, Children, Wealth, Cross, Ransom, and Sight Mark 9 — Glory, Unbelief, Suffering, Humility, and Radical Discipleship Matthew 18 — Kingdom Humility, Care for the Little Ones, Discipline, and Forgiveness in Christ’s Community Matthew 19 — Marriage from Creation, Children Received, Riches Renounced, and the Reward of Following Christ Matthew 25 — Readiness, Stewardship, and the Final Judgment of the Son of Man Matthew 7 — Kingdom Discernment, the Narrow Way, and the Wise Builder Philippians 2 — The Mind of Christ and the Humility of Gospel Witness Philippians 4 — Rejoicing, Peace, Contentment, and Gospel Partnership in Christ Romans 5 — Peace with God, Rejoicing in Grace, and Life Through the One Man Jesus Christ Romans 6 — Dead to Sin and Alive to God in Christ Jesus Romans 8 — No Condemnation, Life in the Spirit, and the Unbreakable Love of God in Christ

A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain

Sources

MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain

Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0

Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0

STEPBible Data — CC BY 4.0

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